Means for scoring ice blocks by fluid pressure



Nov. 4, 1930. R. H. ROARK MEANS FOR SCORING ICE BLOCKS BY FLUID PRESSURE Filed Nqv. 25, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l Patented Nov. 4, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT E. ROARK, OF WACO, TEXAS, ASSIGNOB, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE GENERAL ICE SCORING MACHINE COMPANY, OF DALLAS, TEXAS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE FQR SCORING ICE BLOCKS FLUID PRESSURE n ppl ifcagipn filed November 25, 1927. Serial No. 235,512.

This invention relates to ice cutting machines andmore particularly to machines of this class for scoring or making kerfs in blocks of ice so that the block may be afterward separated into smalier blocks or-cakes of a predetermined weight, for convenient handling and distribution.

The improved machine provides mechanisms and parts for .the utilization of fluid pressure for lowering movable saws for cutting kerfs inablock of ice cross-wise of the block and for movingthe block by fluid pressure means between saws for scoring it and making .kerfs therein longitudinally of the block and removing theblock from the machine.

With the above and further objects in view the invention will be fully understood from a perusal ofthe following detailed description taken'in connection Withthe accompanying drawings and wherein:

Figure 1 represents a partial side elevational view of the machine. Figure 2 is an end elevational view.

Figure 3 is alongitudinal sectional view of a double-acting cylinder and a cross-section of a valve atthe bottom of the machine.

' Figure iis a side view of a valve dish and its controlrod,"the'latter being in section.

Figure 5 Zi s a longitudinal sectional View of a single action cylinder and a cross-section View of its operating valve, at the top of the machine; and

Figure 6 is a side'view offa valve disk and sectional View of its rod for controlling the single action valve.

A more particular and specific reference will newbe made 't'o the various parts of the inventionand" different numerals will be uti- "li zedto so designate these parts. The nun eral 1 denotes the flooring of a building within whiehthemachine placed. Formed in thejfiooring is a'longitudi nal opening armthe purposepf allowing the passage of an element, hereinafter referred to, for moving the'icetlirouglrthe machine.

jMount'ed uponthe fiooring 1 are four uprightmembeli's 3, formed of channel iron or thelike, the groove of the channels being'topurpose of these channels will be fully explained hereinafter. Suitable brace members 4 connect the side pairs of upright ind similar brace members 5 extend across the ends.

Movably suspended between the uprights is a carriage member indicated generally at 6 and which consists of a rectangular frame 7 with a downwardly projecting member 8 at each corner thereof. Suitable braces 9 connect the members 8 and with the diagonal braces 9 form a rigid structure. Seated upon the carriage is a motor 10, and as will be obvious the latter occupies a position above the frame 7, clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Formed at the lower extremity, at the inside of each of the members 8 is a learing 11, opposite pairs ofbearings being arranged in alinement, the pair at one side of the said carriage having mounted therein the shaft 12, and the pair atthe opposite side of the carriage carrying the shaft 13. Each of these shafts carry circular saws 1 and 15. It wi]l be seen by reference to'Figure 2 that the teeth oi: the saws Mare setat the reverse position to those on the saws *15 so that each set of saws in order to cut properly must be rotated in the d rect on ndicated by the arrows in Figure 2. The saws are caused torotate by means ofth-e shaft on motor 19 by means o'f'thebelts' and-'- l8, the latter helt'being twisted as shown to cause the saws 15 to rotate in a direction opposite to that of saws tudinally. A guideway 26 enables the ice to travel in alineinent with the saws.

For the purpose of moving the carriage upwardly and downwardly to score a block of ice crosswise there is provided a dylinder 27 which operates by fluid pressure. This cylinder has a piston 28, see Figure 5, and piston rod 29. There is also included in the arrangement for moving the carriage a counterwei ht -80'. suspended by a cable 31 connected to the piston rod 29 and a cable 32. Both cables are connected to the counterweight, the cable 32 being also fastened to the carriage 6 and riding over pulleys 33, the cable 31 riding over the pulley 3 L.

Fluid pressure is admitted into the cylinder 27 from any suitable source by the pipe 35 and is controlled by a valve 36 of a three-way type, the cylinder being of single action. The valve includes a disk 36 having a notch 37, Figure 6, the disk being moved manually by a rod 38 having an operating handle 39. Adjacent the disk is an arm so pivoted to the framework to occupy positions shown in tall and dotted lines. The valve 36 is returned to normal position by a spring 4:1. On one end of the piston rod 29 is a member 12. The operation of this cylinder and valve and co-acting parts will be fully explained hereinafter.

The foregoing relates to the means employed in connection with fluid pressure for moving the rotating saws in scoring the ice blocks cross-wise. For moving the ice blocks between the saws to score the block longitudinally a double-acting cylinder 42, shown in detail in Figure 3 is disposed at the bottom of the machine. This cylinder includes a piston 43, piston rod 4d and ports 45 and 16 and a four-way valve 47, including a valve disk 18. A pipe 49 feeds the valve with liquid pressure. This cylinder is operable in conjunction with the counterweight in moving the ice block A between the saws 25 to score the block longitudinally. The valve cooperates with the counterweight by means of a lever 50 in connection with a link 51 loosely secured to the disk 48. Connected to the piston rod i l is an ice pusher 52 held in normal upright position by spring 53. V

In practical operation of the machine, when the operator places a block of ice in the machine in position for scoring the block, he pulls the operating lever 38 so as to rotate the valve disk 36 until the finger 36 comes into the notch 37. The valve 36 (normally held closed by the spring ll) opens, admitting fiuid press ire into the cylinder 27 and moving the piston rod 29 in direction of arrow and thus raising the counterweight 30 by means of the cable 31. This permits the saw carriage 6 to descend, the rotating saws score the block vertically.

When the saws have reached the bottom of edge or the ice block, the member 42 on the piston rod 29 has moved far enough to the right in Figure 1 to come into contact with the upper end of the arm 40, and the finger 36 is thrown out from the notch 37 and the spring 1 retracts the valve to closed position-cutting oti fluid pressure from the cylinder 27, and at the same time releasing the pressure therein.

The fluid pressure no longer supporting the counterweight, which is heavier than the saw carriage, the counterweight descends to the position shown in Figure 1, raising the saw carriage to former position.

The cylinder disposed at the bottom of the machine is of a double-acting type and is supplied with fluid pressure by means of the tourway valve &7, see Figure 3, this valve being controlled by the lever 50, and spring Now when the counterweight 30 is at its lowermost position it rests upon and depresses one end 01- the lever 50, thereby raising the opposite end thereof which end is heavier and through the link at 51, places the valve 47 in position to admit pressure to the left end of the cylinder in Figure 3 and thereby moving the piston 43 to the right. The pusher is then in the position indicated at 52 and is behind the ice block which has been moved to position A having passed between the saws 24: which have scored the block longitudinally. The pusher is hinged to the rod When the counterweight is lifted as above described the weight of same is removed from the lever which assumes the dotted-line position in the drawing, the weight 42 causing the right hand end thereof to move downward, assisted by the spring 50' attached to the disk 48. When the heavy end of the lever is down the position of the valve is reversed, releasing pressure from leftend and admitting pressure to the right end of cylinder d2, causing piston rod 454: to move to the left in fully extended position, the hinged pusher passing under the ice block readily and when out from under the block, the spring 53 retracts it to an upright position.

After the rod 44 has removed the ice from the machine, another block can be placed therein and the operation repeated.

It will be readily seen that fluid pressure means could be used to move ice blocks into the machine well to remove them and that the ice block could be scored horizontally as it entered the machine instead of as it leaves the machine.

Further modifications could be had such as would enable all the valves to be automatically controlled, or all valves manually con trolled as desired.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In an ice scoring machine having vertically movable scoring means adapted to score a block of ice during such movement, fluid pressure means for effecting said vertical movement, and automatically operated means for cutting OE and releasing fluid pressure when the vertical movement in one direction is completed, whereby the scoring means may return to its initial position.

2. In an ice scoring machine having vertically movable scoring devices adapted to score a block of ice during such movement in one direction, fluid pressure means for effecting said vertical movement, manual means for initially supplying the fluid pressure, and automatic means for cutting off and releasing the fluid pressure as soon as the vertical movement in one direction is completed, whereby the scoring means may return to its initial position.

3. In an ice scoring machine having vertically movable scoring means, and stationary horizontal scoring means, fluid pressure means for effecting vertical movement of the scoring means for vertically scoring a block of ice, means for automatically cutting OE and releasing the fluid pressure as soon as the vertical scoring operation is completed, whereby the scoring means may return to its initial position, fluid pressure means automatically operating to advance the blocks of ice in contact with the horizontal scoring means when the vertical scoring means has been restored to initial position, and means for automatically cutting ofl and releasing the fluid pressure from the block advancing means as soon as the horizontal scoring operation is completed.

4;. An ice scoring machine comprising a framework, a carriage movably arranged in the framework and carrying saws, fluid pressure means for moving said carriage in a vertical plane to score ice blocks vertically, means for automatically cutting off fluid pressure when the vertical scoring operation is completed, stationary saws for sawing the ice horizontally, means for moving by fluid pressure the blocks of ice between the stationary saws to effect the horizontal scoring and for delivering the blocks from the machine, said ice moving means operating auto matically after the vertical scoring operation is completed, and means for automatically cutting OE and releasing the fluid pressure from said ice moving means as soon as the horizontal scoring has been completed.

5. In an ice scoring machine having vertically movable scoring means adapted to score a block of ice during such movement, fluid pressure means for effecting said vertical movement, and means movable with said vertical scoring means for automatically cut ting off and releasing fluid pressure when the vertical movement in one direction is completed, whereby the scoring means may return to its initial position.

6. In an ice scoring machine having vertically movable ice scoring means, and horizontal ice scoring means, fluid pressure operated means for effecting vertical movement of the scoring means for vertically scoring a block of ice, fluid pressure operated means for advancing the blocks of ice into contact with the horizontal scoring means, manual means for initially supplying fluid pressure to one of said fluid pressure operated means, and automatic means for supplying fluid pressure to the other of said fluid pressure means when the. one has completed its movement, and means for automatically cutting off and releasing fluid pressure from each of said fluid pressure operated means when its respective movement is completed.

In testimony'whereof I aifix my signature.

ROBERT H. ROARK. 

